First National Bank

Another shot of the beautiful First National Bank building in Cuba City. This image comes from a postcard with a 1917 postmark.

The bank shared the building at this time with a store owned by W. T. Lowe. The store name is visible on the awnings. A woman's dress is on display behind the plate glass windows, and you can even catch a glimpse of a gentleman (an employee, or Mr. Lowe himself?) in the store.

Dentist J. G. Harris operated on the upper floor of the building, as did lawyer Sherman E. Smalley.

Visible on the right side of the photograph, behind the bank, is the original village hall in Cuba City. Look for the bell tower with the village's fire bell inside.

Francis Faherty's shoes

In January 1918, Francis Faherty entered the shoe business in Cuba City when he purchased Hendricks Shoe Store. The former owner, John Hendricks, had been in business for ten years but quit the store due to poor health and moved to his newly purchased farm.

When the business changed hands, the Cuba City News Herald reported, "The new firm will carry a swell line of shoes for men, women and children and will continue the same liberal policies adhered to by their predecessor and new lines will probably be added as conditions may deem expedient." (CCNH, January 18, 1918).

Image from the Cuba City Centennial book. I am not sure of the shoe store's location.

Francis Faherty sold more than shoes in his store, as seen in this advertisement that appeared in the Cuba City News Herald  on May 31, 1918.

This advertisement appeared in the Cuba City News Herald on August 30, 1918.

From the Cuba City News Herald, September 20, 1918.

Francis Faherty had farmed in Benton Township and lived in Galena for several years before moving to Cuba City. In addition to the shoe business, he is mentioned in the Cuba City Centennial book as being an early coal and ice dealer. Faherty owned, with John Jeffrey, a large ice house on North Jefferson Street. He also served as assessor for Cuba City.

According to his obituary, Francis Faherty retired from the shoe business around 1926 and he died in 1941 at the age of 87.

Mr. Faherty's obituary can be found online here: 

Fall Proves Fatal Two Years Later (Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, November 11, 1941)

Cuba City's turn-of-the-century lumber yards

In 1905, my great-great-grandfather sought estimates for a new barn he was building on his farm in Elk Grove Township (Lafayette County). He got estimates from two Cuba City lumber yards--Eustice & Jenkyns and the Cuba City Lumber Yard--and, fortunately, copies of those estimates still exist on the company letterhead:

Below is an earlier 1898 receipt from the Cuba City Lumber Yard. I include it because it lists Sherman Smalley (future attorney and judge) as salesman.

 

Eustice & Jenkyns lumber yard was established around 1884-85 by Charles Eustice and John Jenkyns (a third partner, Edward J. McCormick, sold out in the 1890s). The business began as a grain buying and farm supply firm but eventually moved to lumber. The lumber yard was located where the former racquetball courts and Cardins pharmacy are today.

After John Jenkyns died, Charles Eustice and his sons, Russell and Albert, and later grandson Maclay, carried it on as the Eustice Lumber Company. After Maclay's death, it was purchased by B & H Lumber Company.


 Nearby was the Cuba City Lumber Yard, which was a branch of the William Hoskins & Co. lumber business in Galena. William Hoskins probably opened the yard in the 1880s. According to the company letterhead, the lumber company's office was near the train depot. The lumber yard was located where Kwik Trip is today. Hoskins also had sheds across Calhoun Street, where the laundromat now stands. The business later became known as the Hoskins Lumber Yard and existed into the 1920s.

(The images of Eustice & Jenkyns lumber yard and most information was taken from the Cuba City Centennial book.)

R. A. Wilson & Co.

The trading card above is a piece of advertising from R. A. Wilson & Co., a very early Cuba City business.

R. A. Wilson was a stock dealer and hotel proprietor in nearby Georgetown, but when railroad tracks were laid through Cuba City in the 1870s, Wilson opted for a business in the growing new community.

The Wilson & Co. store, a general store and market for farm produce, was established in Cuba City around 1875.  R. A. Wilson was in business with two other gentlemen: Simon Harker and Cooper (first name unknown). They built the building that, with additions and remodeling, would one day become Donohoo Furniture and later Owl Furniture.

 In the early 1890s, R. A. Wilson & Co. started the first creamery in Cuba City, which they later leased to the Elgin Creamery Co.

In 1895, J.C. Donohoo, Patrick Doyle, and Thomas Splinter bought into the business and the store would eventually become Donohoo, Splinter & Company, as it appears in the photograph below.

(Information and image taken from the Cuba City Centennial book.)

Greetings from Cuba City

Don't say you are too busy to knit

Cuba City had a very active Red Cross branch during World War I. This newspaper piece encouraging (or shaming) residents to get involved is still intense almost one hundred years later.

RED CROSS NOTES

What is your work for the war? Undoubtedly you have given generously of your income, but that is not sufficient to buy immunity from work, from personal sacrifice, from the honorable weariness of those who share great responsibilities and give themselves with light heart and high purpose to a noble and lofty ideal. When we think of the war work we would like to do, it is in terms of ambulance drivers and aviation pilots. Yet these roles are for the few and they alone can not win this war. Back of them must be a great army of workers ready to take up the humblest task leading to victory. There is one form of work that every woman can share. Don’t say that you are too busy to knit. In war more men die from cold and exposure and illness than from wounds. Every hour that you waste, you are throwing away the life of one of our soldiers. Do you dare to shirk? Set aside a part of each day for your war work. It may tire you a little—what of it? Do you think our army is ignorant of fatigue? Our men are giving up every pleasure, every comfort, every home tie—offering up their bodies and their lives for you. Just stop and think of all they are doing for you and your children! Come out and begin your work today.

The Red Cross has just made another shipment of seven hundred and forty-six (746) pieces altogether. Here is a list of the knit articles:

16 Mufflers

23 Wristlets

7 Pairs Socks

6 Sweaters

5 Hemlets

Our meetings are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, from 2:00 to 5:00 o’clock. Room in the First National Bank Building.

--Cuba City News Herald (11-02-1917)

James Jeffrey, Georgetown

Before the definite path of the railroad was determined, several area settlements vied for the honor and certain economic boost that frequent rail traffic would bring. One of those places was Georgetown, located just northwest of Cuba City. In the mid-to-late 1800s, Georgetown was a flourishing community with several businesses and residents.

1895 Plat Map of Georgetown

One of Georgetown's businesses was a general store owned by James Jeffrey. Jeffrey was born in England in 1841 and came to America with his parents in 1847. I don't have exact years for Jeffrey's store operation in Georgetown, but he was definitely in business from 1880-1900, based on census information. I believe his store was located at the intersection of what is today Country Road D and St. Rose Road.

Above is a trading card from the James Jeffrey store in Georgetown. It is advertising Dr. D. Jayne's Expectorant.

When the railroad tracks were built through Cuba City, Georgetown's fate was sealed. Its population dwindled and businesses closed or moved to more lucrative locations, leaving Georgetown a small, peaceful farming community.